Mozilla has set loose Firefox 10, the latest version of its open-source Web browser for Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux. New features in the release are largely limited to technologies aimed at Web developers, but theres one important new feature that ought to appeal to anyone who has augmented their browsers functionality: by default, most add-ons will be compatible with new versions of Firefox by default, and users will have an easier time managing and (if necessary) updating their add-ons to new versions of the browser.

In previous versions of Firefox, Mozilla assumed add-ons werent compatible with new versions of the browser unless they had specifically been re-released for a new browser version; the result was that many users put off upgrades until new versions of their add-ons were available. However, Mozilla realized roughly three-quarters of all Firefox add-ons generally dont have any compatibility issues with new releasesthe biggest exceptions are binary add-ons that contain their own compiled code. So, beginning with Firefox 10, Mozilla assumes that extensions are compatible with new versions of Firefox so long as they dont contain compiled code and were compatible with Firefox 4, the last time a major shift in architecture required add-on changes. Firefox 10 also polls for new versions of add-ons once a day, and installs them if an update is found.

Most of the other new features in Firefox 10 are under-the-hood changes and features only Web developers can love.

Mozilla also released Firefox 3.6.26, the latest security update for the two-year-old browser, to patch five vulnerabilities, four of them critical.

Firefox 3.6 is closing on retirement: Mozilla has said it will stop shipping security updates for the browser after April 24.

To replace Firefox 3.6 - which many enterprises retained when they balked at upgrading every six weeks -- the company also kicked off the first edition of Firefox ESR (extended support release).

Firefox 10 ESR will be supported with security updates through its 54-week lifespan, but its user interface and feature set will not change during that stretch. Mozilla will upgrade ESR users to a new edition starting Nov. 20, 2012.

I’m afraid to try the new version. Each one seems to get slower and slower these days. Every time they up the version number, it adds like 500ms to the time it takes javascript to do anything or bookmarks to register being clicked. What a mess...

I downloaded Firefox day before yesterday and it was so slow it was painful.

I found the best way for me to upgrade is to completely remove the existing FF and preferences. Then install the latest version as a new install. Then, use the add-on backup utility, FEBE, to 'restore' the profile -- which includes all my preferences, add-ons, bookmarks, password file, etc.

Just upgraded too, it seems a bit faster on my PC. Gotta get a “round tuit” for my laptop, I’m still running FF 8.0 on it. BTW, Farmville seems to run faster since the upgrade, maybe there is better Flash integration.

Quix: it sounds suspiciously like you managed to get a lousy download. Before getting frustrated, I would try a second copy. Hmmm... Also now seeing you are writing at 3AM - I wonder if the server the install program is trying to access for additional files is down for maintenance?

28
posted on 02/02/2012 9:57:20 AM PST
by AFPhys
((Praying for our troops, our citizens, that the Bible and Freedom become basis of the US law again))

Two weeks ago, I had trouble installing a download. Turned out that the anti-virus program had flagged it as a “Trojan” of some type and quarantined it, quite likely due to it containing code that had it “phone home” to get files/updates when it was installed. So, yes, disabling your A/V is a good try now. Oh - by the way, I had to re-download it after disabling the A/V.

31
posted on 02/03/2012 9:14:30 AM PST
by AFPhys
((Praying for our troops, our citizens, that the Bible and Freedom become basis of the US law again))

I’ve tried and am trying the new version. It’s fine but for one maddening issue.

Whenever I close the browser, it logs me out of every site that I have in a tab. Every time. I’ve tried changing settings in the about:config, settings in the options menus, even ran a disk check and looked over my event viewer.

I cannot get it to quit doing this. If anyone has any ideas I may have overlooked, I would certainly appreciate it. Nothing like spending my limited morning FREEP time logging into everywhere....

I’ve tried and am trying the new version. It’s fine but for one maddening issue.

Whenever I close the browser, it logs me out of every site that I have in a tab. Every time. I’ve tried changing settings in the about:config, settings in the options menus, even ran a disk check and looked over my event viewer.

I cannot get it to quit doing this. If anyone has any ideas I may have overlooked, I would certainly appreciate it. Nothing like spending my limited morning FREEP time logging into everywhere....

Well, you are most welcome though nothing have suggested thus far has accomplished what you are hoping to do. While reading this “thanks” from you, I realized yet another possible problem, also. Since I lump this in with “anti-virus activities” on my computer, I didn’t mention it explicitly earlier:

Your firewall may also be set up in such a way that it silently blocks communications that some of these installers need to do. I try to keep mine set up so it always tells me when it wants to block something or allow it, but your firewall may not let you know.

37
posted on 02/04/2012 9:16:26 AM PST
by AFPhys
((Praying for our troops, our citizens, that the Bible and Freedom become basis of the US law again))

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